" When I decided that I should have a female character, I simply introduced her, knowing nothing about her other than the fact that she was an Englishwoman. ... Whereupon Claire Elizabeth Beauchamp promptly took over the story and began telling it herself. Being in no position to argue with her, I took the path of least resistance, and went along to see what would happen next. "

― Diana Gabaldon , The Outlandish Companion: Companion to Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber, Voyager, and Drums of Autumn